FM: China agrees with Nigeria's decision to disengage with Taiwan

It's "a correct political choice" for Nigeria to order Taiwan to move its business affairs office from the capital Abuja according to the globally recognized one-China principle, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday.

Lu spoke highly of Nigeria's decision at a regular news conference, saying that barriers for the healthy development of China-Nigeria ties have been swept away.

"It proves again that sticking to the one-China principle is in accordance with the will of the people as well as the international trend," he said.

On Wednesday, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama announced the order after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Taiwan would stop enjoying privileges because it isn't a country recognized under international law, Onyeama said.

The two countries signed a joint declaration after the discussions, in which Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China policy. Taiwan has no "diplomatic ties" with Nigeria, but has an office in Abuja for handling business affairs.

Wang said after the meeting that Taiwan's business office has engaged in activities that have obviously violated the one-China principle for years. In April 2016, President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari reached an important consensus on sticking to the one-China principle, he said.

Last month, the African island nation of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe announced the country would cut "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan. Currently, 21 countries and governments, mainly small nations and islands in Latin America, Oceania and Africa, rely heavily on economic aid from Taiwan and hold such ties with the island.